The Bitch Box

Freebase Dali · 11-06-2010, 03:49 PM

Just a random annoyance... Figure I'll put it here..

Why do some American people pronounce robot as "RowBut"? (underlined part is said with the syllable emphasis)
Not only does it sound ridiculous, but nowhere in the American pronunciation of English does O make a U sound, that I'm aware of. And it's not a matter of accent, as the people I hear doing it either have otherwise mild accents, or are flat altogether, or none of their other O's make a U sound. Just something I noticed that annoys me mostly for the fact that I can't seem to figure out any other explanation for it than "they just learned it that way".

Then again, maybe I just learned to say "RowBot" and robots are really pronounced as rowbuts. Doesn't really matter I suppose.. Just one of those things that make me wonder. Maybe someone here can help clear it up for me.

LoathsomePete · 11-06-2010, 03:50 PM

Why must you hate on Dr. Zoidberg?

Freebase Dali · 11-06-2010, 04:04 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by LoathsomePete

Why must you hate on Dr. Zoidberg?

Who's that?

NSW · 11-06-2010, 04:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Freebase Dali

Who's that?

Freebase Dali · 11-06-2010, 04:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by nonsubmissivewife

He... doesn't look like a real doctor.

LoathsomePete · 11-06-2010, 04:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Freebase Dali

He... doesn't look like a real doctor.

**Janszoon** · 11-06-2010, 04:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Freebase Dali

Just a random annoyance... Figure I'll put it here..

Why do some American people pronounce robot as "RowBut"? (underlined part is said with the syllable emphasis)
Not only does it sound ridiculous, but nowhere in the American pronunciation of English does O make a U sound, that I'm aware of. And it's not a matter of accent, as the people I hear doing it either have otherwise mild accents, or are flat altogether, or none of their other O's make a U sound. Just something I noticed that annoys me mostly for the fact that I can't seem to figure out any other explanation for it than "they just learned it that way".

Then again, maybe I just learned to say "RowBot" and robots are really pronounced as rowbuts. Doesn't really matter I suppose.. Just one of those things that make me wonder. Maybe someone here can help clear it up for me.

Haha, on a similar note it always makes me laugh when I'm watching an old movie and they pronounce it "ROW-bit".

Freebase Dali · 11-06-2010, 04:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by LoathsomePete

Still unconvinced.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Janszoon

Haha, on a similar note it always makes me laugh when I'm watching an old movie and they pronounce it "ROW-bit".

Hah, yea it's that same thing. Some of them pronounce it rowbit, and some rowbut. I guess the speed at which the pronounce it affects the sound of the bit or but. I still don't know what's so hard about actually pronouncing the O though. All you have to do is put the same length emphasis on both syllables equally and it should happen naturally if you're aware that there's an O in there.

Maybe that's the issue... lack of emphasis on the second syllable truncates the vowel sound?

Paedantic Basterd · 11-06-2010, 04:37 PM

It probably has something to do with diphthongs. People not only speak words differently according to location, but hear them differently as well. For example, in some areas of the United States, the words "writer" and "rider" sound identical when spoken. Americans who speak with raising hear differences in those two words. Or, more famously, Canadians saying "aboat" rather than "about".

Mojo · 11-06-2010, 06:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Urban Hatemonger

Why does bonfire night last a fucking week these days?

There are more fireworks going off tonight than there was last night.

I was just thinking about this before as lots of people in my street are setting off fireworks tonight. I understand why people may do it tonight, maybe for some reason they couldnt last night and so today is more appropriate.

However, you still missed it. So setting them off tonight is no different than setting them off on any given night of the year, yet that doesnt happen.

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11-06-2010, 03:50 PM	#6622 (permalink)
LoathsomePete Cardboard Box Realtor Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Hobb's End Posts: 7,648	Why must you hate on Dr. Zoidberg? __________________ Last.FM 101 Albums That May Not Change Your Life, But I Really Like And You Might Too

11-06-2010, 03:49 PM	#6621 (permalink)
Freebase Dali Partying on the inside Join Date: Mar 2009 Posts: 5,584	Just a random annoyance... Figure I'll put it here.. Why do some American people pronounce robot as "RowBut"? (underlined part is said with the syllable emphasis) Not only does it sound ridiculous, but nowhere in the American pronunciation of English does O make a U sound, that I'm aware of. And it's not a matter of accent, as the people I hear doing it either have otherwise mild accents, or are flat altogether, or none of their other O's make a U sound. Just something I noticed that annoys me mostly for the fact that I can't seem to figure out any other explanation for it than "they just learned it that way". Then again, maybe I just learned to say "RowBot" and robots are really pronounced as rowbuts. Doesn't really matter I suppose.. Just one of those things that make me wonder. Maybe someone here can help clear it up for me.

11-06-2010, 04:37 PM	#6629 (permalink)
Paedantic Basterd Music Addict Join Date: Sep 2010 Posts: 5,184	It probably has something to do with diphthongs. People not only speak words differently according to location, but hear them differently as well. For example, in some areas of the United States, the words "writer" and "rider" sound identical when spoken. Americans who speak with raising hear differences in those two words. Or, more famously, Canadians saying "aboat" rather than "about".